News
Oreta Stubbs, Sharing her Passion…
#PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands, October 26, 2022 – A Turks and Caicos Islander who has contributed more than 27 years of service to the hospitality sector, has taken on the mission to help build the next generation of hospitality professionals, one day at a time.
Oreta Stubbs, laundry attendant at Beaches Turks & Caicos was born in North Caicos and moved to Providenciales at the age of 21 to join her husband. She joined the BTCI team shortly thereafter.
Describing herself as very inquisitive and always ready to jump at an opportunity to learn a new skill, Stubbs has garnered experiences across the hospitality industry as a chef, room attendant, shift leader in the laundry department, and now a near 20-year veteran laundry attendant who has decided to pace herself, and do her part in helping to groom the younger generation.
“After joining Beaches Turks & Caicos in 1995, I was soon promoted to a supervisory position, which allowed me to build a great relationship with my team. Due to family commitments however, and in consultation with my manager, I opted not to continue in that role. This was one of the hardest decisions that I had to make but it has served me well and I have no regrets,” Stubbs shared.
As Stubbs continued to reflect on her journey, she shared what she felt are the main characteristics needed to grow within the industry. Front of mind for her, is being able to adjust and prepare for whatever may come. “My advice to those with aspirations to work in the industry is to always be cognizant of the fact that it takes hard work, commitment and respect for self and others to be successful. Placing priority on what is important and to create a plan from which to grow as a professional, are pillars on which to cultivate a successful way forward,” Stubbs added.
In sharing his experience of this veteran, General Manager James McAnally added, “Oreta is a genuine hard worker who constantly brightens my day. Whether it’s a quick hello or sitting down for a conversation, she is always positive, humble and has an absolutely contagious attitude that I respect and appreciate. Even though she may not hold a supervisor title, she is well respected and is a natural leader.”
Seen as an on-resort inspiration to others, it was with pride that Richard Myers, laundry department manager shared his thoughts on his veteran staff. “Oreta is a very dependable and knowledgeable team leader who is always willing to help in the management of the department. With a number of younger workers at the resort, she is able to help in managing the standard of the department here at Beaches Turks and Caicos in provide the most memorable experience to our guests each day,” Myers noted.
Stubbs, who is also a mother of five adult children, went on to add that, “It gives me great joy to share the great work ethic, the values and skills that I have acquired during my professional years, with those new to the department as well as the members of my own family. I also love the fact that the Beaches Turks and Caicos is committed to allowing employees to grow and achieve their fullest potential. The resort provides opportunities to not only grow within a department or cross-train in other areas, but also present opportunities at other sister-resorts throughout the Caribbean. My work family was understanding when I made the decision to stay close to home especially during my children’s formative years and this decision is one that I am satisfied with even to this day, as it has afforded me the ability to still learn on the job and take care for my family.”
Ryan Campbell, a laundry supervisor, was happy to share that the depth of his own knowledge within the area has been cemented by Stubbs. Said Campbell: “The guidance and directive that I have received from Oreta is without a doubt, nothing that I could have learned from any institution. She is simply a reservoir of expert knowledge and she is always happy to share with the younger team. She is a stickler for punctuality and is someone who ensures that the quality and standards of the Beaches brand are always reflected in every task.”
Captions:
Header: Oreta Stubbs veteran Laundry Attendant at Beaches Turks and Caicos prepares to place a beach towel on one of the folding machines at the Laundry department.
1st insert: Oreta Stubbs, (right) Laundry Attendant at Beaches Turks and Caicos shares a moment with her daughter Elice Baniden, Laundry Attendant at the Laundry department at the Beaches Turks and Caicos.
2nd insert: Oreta Stubbs (right) Laundry Attendant at the Beaches Turks and Caicos as an extraordinary leader always makes time to help in the career growth of her team members, here she shows Laundry Attendant Olondieu Celeus the art of checking linin in the department.
News
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT REGARDING RECENT THREATS MADE AGAINST TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AIRPORTS AND SCHOOLS
May 6th, 2024 – As co-chairs of the National Security Council, Her Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Premier condemn strongly recent threats made against Turks and Caicos Islands airports and schools.
We have zero tolerance for these disruptions and the alarm that they cause. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) continues to work closely with partner agencies and will keep the public updated as we manage the situation.
The National Security Council wishes to reassure residents, travellers and parents that the safety and security of our Islands is its highest priority.
All appropriate measures are being taken to address these threats and all required security protocols are being followed.
The Airports Authority and the Ministry of Education, with school principals are collaborating with the RTCIPF investigations.
We encourage the public to be extra vigilant against phishing and malicious emails and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
We appreciate the understanding of the public as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our airports, schools and communities.
Press Release
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (May 3rd, 2024) The Turks and Caicos Islands’ Grace Bay Beach has once again been recognised among the top beaches in the world.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches has listed Grace Bay Beach among the top beaches in the world.
Grace Bay Beach, located on the island of Providenciales was listed at number 17 on the annual list.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches list, sponsored by Banana Boat, is a collaboration with over 1,000 of the world’s leading travel influencers and professionals.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches 2024 is a reflection of the opinions and experiences of top travel influencers and professionals around the world. The beaches were ranked according to eight important criteria: unique characteristics, wildlife, untouched, soundtrack of nature, easy to enter the water, often calm water, not too crowded and frequency of idyllic conditions.
Grace Bay Beach also featured among the top 20 in the 2023 World’s 50 Best Beaches list.
This is the latest accolade for Grace Bay Beach this year. Known for its powdery white sand and breathtakingly turquoise blue water, the famous beach was adjudged the number one Caribbean beach in February in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards and Best of the Best for 2024, ranking number five among the Top 25 Best of the Best Beaches in the world.
In January 2024, Grace Bay was recognised as the #9 Best Beach in the Caribbean in the 10Best Reader’s Choice with Bambarra Beach in Middle Caicos ranked at #2.
Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Josephine Connolly said she is proud of the continued recognition of the leading beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“As a destination that prioritises sustainable development and environmental preservation, the fact that Grace Bay Beach features consistently as one of the top beaches in the world stands as a testament to our commitment to stay “Beautiful by Nature”. I urge visitors to come to the Turks and Caicos Islands to experience this and many other of our beautiful beaches across the Turks and Caicos Islands,” said the Minister.
Tine Holst, Co-Founder of The World’s 50 Best Beaches, said the list is meant to inspire travellers.
She said: “Our 2024 list is a reflection of the countless days spent by our judges, Beach Ambassadors and World’s 50 Best team discovering beaches around the world. The list will help inspire travelers to leave the beaten path behind and enjoy the most stunning and relaxing beaches on earth”.
Read World’s 50 Best Beaches description of Grace Bay Beach here.
News
Family of 16 yo Tourist claims negligence in jet ski death; TCI Coroner’s Court hearing evidence
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, May 2, 2024 – The family of a 16-year-old who died in Grand Turk six years ago while on a Carnival Cruise into Grand Turk is a little closer to closure as the Turks and Caicos Islands Coroner’s Court has opened his case for an inquest.
“On Wednesday, May 16th, 2018, at 11:30 a.m. Police and Emergency Medical Officials responded to a two-jet-ski collision that left a 16-year-old male dead, near the Cruise Terminal in Grand Turk. Two people were involved in the collision. The second male did not receive any injuries. This incident is under Police investigation.”
That was the brief police report in the aftermath of Nicholas Twyman’s death.
In the comments dozens of residents and visitors claim to have been on the scene that day, as the boy was pulled ashore, some trying to assist while others looked on, horrified.
Coroner Mickia Mills called up the case on March 21, 2024 almost six years after the incident occurred. Mills is in charge of finding out what exactly happened that day in Grand Turk and whether there was any negligence or if it was simply a terrible accident. 
That verdict will be for the coroner and her potential jurors to decide. However, the family has shared their version of what happened that day.
A lawsuit filed in Florida Courts in October 2019 (Twyman v. Carnival Corp) detailed the heartbreaking hours that led up to the death of Nicholas. In it, the plaintiffs, listed as Gyjuanna TWYMAN and Michael Twyman, claim that they docked in Grand Turk and were curious about using the jet skis; both parents and the son were told by the Carnival team aboard the ship that there was not a formal shore excursion in Grand Turk involving jet skis, but that jet skis would be available for rent by the hour.
The family from Indiana claims three jet skis were rented, one for Nicholas, another for his father, Michael, and another for a different passenger, while their mother remained ashore. Wet Money Enterprise is listed as the jet ski company.
The family says they were given little instruction on using the Jet Skis, especially their son who was a new rider. The lawsuit maintains that Michael was not given any instructions other than being told where the kill switch was and not to ride too close to the cruise ship.
Sometime during his excursion, the young man crashed into the other jet ski. The family claims that neither Carnival Cruises nor representatives from the jet ski company responded. They say it was his father who spun around on his own jet ski, dived into the water for his son, and brought him to shore.
Once there, it was the young man’s mother, a registered nurse, who started emergency medical care.
When Turks and Caicos’s EMS did arrive after 15 minutes the family claims they were unsure how to use certain medical implements and had to be directed by the distressed mother.
The court documents list the cause of death for the young man as blunt force trauma and drowning, similar to what is listed in the TCI courts.
Coroner Mills, who took up her position in 2024, will oversee the proceedings which continued on Tuesday, April 23rd.
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